Newt: Romney Should Serve Chick-fil-A at Convention

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich tells Newsmax there is an easy way for Mitt Romney to show support for Chick-fil-A and its president’s statements backing traditional marriage — serve the chain’s meals at the Republican National Convention.

Chick-fil-A President Dan Cathy sparked controversy when he told the Baptist Press that the family-owned company, which puts faith ahead of profits by closing on Sundays, was “guilty as charged” for backing the “biblical definition of a family.”

Gingrich visited a Chick-fil-A in Anderson, S.C., in January. (AP Photo)

He later ratcheted up the rhetoric in a radio interview, saying: “I think we are inviting God’s judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at Him and say, ‘We know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage.’”

Gay rights groups responded by calling for a boycott of the business. The mayors of Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. told the chain it is not welcome in their cities.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee’s called on supporters to make Aug. 1 “Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day” by visiting one of the chain’s restaurants, and the response was huge.

But some pundits have said GOP presidential candidate Romney missed a big opportunity to defend Chick-fil-A and its president’s right to express his view on marriage.

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Asked by Newsmax if he sees this as a critical error by Romney, Gingrich said: “[My wife] Callista and I happened to be at the original Chick-fil-A. It’s called the Dwarf House and it’s in Hapeville, Ga. We happened to be there that day. It was an enormous crowd.

“I certainly think that the Romney campaign would be smart to serve Chick-fil-A at the convention for one occasion. I think that would send a pretty clear signal to people without having done very much except to make it happen.”